Cardinals RB has fun hosting first camp

Beanie Wells' first football camp was a big hit last week at Cesar Chavez High School.

More than 300 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the greater Phoenix area couldn't get enough of the Cardinals running back.

Wells couldn't stop smiling.

He recalled being like them, a member of the Boys & Girls Club in Akron, Ohio, but never having that rare experience of being taught football by an NFL player.

"I always wanted to be part of a camp, and to actually do one, it's a blessing," Wells said. "I'm excited about it."

Wells didn't need a pro to tutor him as a tyke. He grew up to become one of the best backs ever to come out of Ohio.

He starred at Ohio State, got taken last year by the Cardinals in the first round of the NFL draft.

He then produced good rookie numbers. It appears the Beanie Wells era is about to take off in the Valley.

His free football camp ran two days at Cesar Chavez last week. On Thursday, about 100 youngsters, ages 7 to 14, showed up. Saturday, there were 300 more kids from all over the Valley. They were all members of the Boys & Girls Clubs.

"What's a better way to do it than to tie both of them (a football camp with the Boys & Girls Clubs) together in Arizona," Wells said. "It's great."

The camp began at 9 a.m. and ended at 3 p.m. Wells was involved the whole time. He was engaged in instruction, moving from group to group on several fields at Cesar Chavez.

He brought along some of his teammates, including defensive tackle Gabe Watson, who was part of a Q&A session at the end with the kids.

The first question to Watson:

"How much can you bench?"

"Five-hundred pounds," Watson said.

Another question:

"How did you do in class?"

Wells and Watson made sure the boys and girls knew life can't just be a football game.

They stressed education, teamwork, generosity, camaraderie.

Everybody went home with autographed footballs and T-shirts.

Cesar Chavez football coach Jim Rattay and his staff helped out with the camp.

"I'm a big Cardinals fan," Leon said. "He's been doing every drill with the kids. He's not just standing around. He signed everything the kids wanted him to sign. He sat with them during lunch and ate with them."

Jacob Arias and his 10-year-old son Jacob Jr., of Gilbert, also were impressed by how involved Wells was.

"He's handing out lunches and sandwiches to the kids," Jacob Sr., said. "People said don't take pictures, but he said, 'Don't worry about it. I have no problem taking pictures.'

"We would have paid for something like this. But to be invited and have everything paid for, that's wonderful."